Global Scans · France · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Discontent with political elites and country performance is driving the discourse and demand for action from the French public. With Presidential elections due in May 2017 it remains to be seen whether another political earthquake may happen in one of the EU's founding countries.

• [New] France is expected to post a deficit of 5% of GDP, followed by Britain at -4.8%, Germany at 3.7% and Japan at -3.1%. WTVB | 1590 AM - 95.5 FM | The Voice of Branch County
• [New] By 2030, a significant investment plan will consolidate Thales' French secure communications activities, covering radio, cryptography, satcom, deployable networks and electronic warfare. Joint Forces News
• [New] Plans detailed by France in April would lift its defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade from about 2% now, even as it attempts to bring its overall deficit into line with euro area rules - a tough budget goal as it heads towards 2027's presidential elections. Yahoo News
• [New] In France the three leading ports by annual tonnage, Le Havre, Marseille, and Dunkirk, are all directly threatened. Climate Uncovered
• [New] French President Emmanuel Macron warned against fragmentation within Europe's defence industry. CPA | The Credit Protection Association
• [New] The number of heatwaves is expected to increase fivefold in France by 2050. The Guardian
• [New] France will supply 16 Rafale aircraft to Ukraine with the first 4 being delivered after training for Ukrainian pilots and engineers is completed as early as 2026. European Action for Ukraine
• [New] PQE is resistant to attacks against cryptography that will become possible when useful quantum computers are available, which may be as early as 2028 or 2029. / France O'Reilly Radar
• [New] France will stop certifying security products that do not have postquantum encryption. O'Reilly Radar
• [New] Heat-related losses between now and 2030 could reach $240 billion in France, $147 billion in Italy, $131 billion in Germany, and $120 billion in Spain. Fortune
• [New] Male chick culling has now been banned in Germany and France and will be prohibited in Italy in 2027. AgFunderNews
• [New] The selected projects are expected to unlock $1.5 billion (€1 billion) of total port infrastructure investment, supporting the large-scale deployment of floating offshore wind in France. MarineLink
• [New] Among major economies, Germany, France, and Italy are projected to grow by just 0.6% in 2026. Natixis - Natixis CIB
• [New] Beginning in 2027, France's national cybersecurity agency will no longer certify security products that lack quantum-resistant encryption. QED-C
• [New] By mid-month, France could again become the epicenter of extreme heat as high pressure, unusually warm seas and soils dried out by previous heat waves reinforce one another. vancouversun
• [New] A new cooking method could make French fries crispier in less time while significantly limiting how much oil they absorb. ScienceDaily
• [New] Wildfires sweeping southern Europe forced thousands from their homes, with the most acute threat in southwest France where a blaze in the Pyrenees scorched more than 11,000 acres and evacuated more than 10,000 people from nearly 30 villages and towns. 10 Things Global News
• Forecasted data shows an increase from 9.5548 million in 2024 to 10.386 million in 2028. / France Reportlinker
• France will deliver air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, including laser-guided anti-drone missiles, Missile d'Interception de Combat et d'Auto-defense missiles, and beyond-visual-range air-to-air METEOR missiles. Critical Threats
• France will transfer the first four Rafale fighter jets after Ukrainian personnel complete training for pilots and mechanics, which could begin in France in 2026. Critical Threats

Last updated: 12 August 2026